Star Wars X-Wing miniature brings 88% increase at auction

An X-Wing fighter filming miniature from the original Star Wars movie saw excellent results in Hollywood

The highly-anticipated Drama, Action, Romance: The Hollywood Auction, which was held on December 15-16 in Los Angeles, has seen superb results for a Star Wars X-Wing filming miniature.

The piece was consigned by a multiple Academy Award-winning visual effects supervisor

The prop, which was used in 1977's Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope sold for an impressive $225,000, achieving an 87.5% increase on its $120,000 high estimate. Also featuring among the Star Wars memorabilia was Luke Skywalker's stunt lightsaber from Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, which sold for $30,000.

Measuring 22 inches by 18 inches, the X-Wing originates from the climatic rebel assault on the Death Star, where numerous X-Wing fighters were exploded using pyrotechnics. Most of these models were shot in an unpainted state due to filming constraints, though this example was one of the few earlier pieces that was fully painted.

It was consigned to auction from the collection of a "multiple Academy Award-winning visual effects supervisor", who had himself acquired it from one of the key members of the visual effects crew working on the film. It was sold in good condition, with minor chips only adding to its screen-used appearance.